Top cop orders physical court appearance; lawyers end strike

POLICE, LAWYERS END IMPASSE OVER PREVIOUS ORDER ALLOWING COPS TO APPEAR VIA VIDEOCONFERENCE BEFORE COURTS

- Arnabjit Sur

Delhi Police commissioner Satish Golchha on Monday directed all officers and personnel to physically appear before courts to record evidence in criminal trials, a move that prompted district court lawyers in the Capital to call off their strike.

In a circular issued Monday, Golchha said: “It is hereby directed that in all criminal trials, all police officers/personnel shall physically appear before the Hon'ble Courts for the purpose of deposition/evidence.”

The order modified an earlier circular that had allowed “formal witnesses” to depose through video conference, a provision lawyers had strongly opposed.

The standoff had threatened to escalate, with bar leaders calling for another round of strikes this week after partial assurances from the police. But Monday's directive brought relief to litigants as normal functioning resumed across the district courts.

Tarun Rana, additional secretary general of the Coordination Committee of All Delhi District Courts, welcomed the decision.

“Our demands have been met and we have now called off the strike. Our long-term demand remains to get the contentious sections of the BNSS amended; for now, we are satisfied,” he said.